Q&A Relating To The Alpha X3EM

As already noted the Alpha X3EM series of tankless instant electric hot water units are here and we're fielding questions about where to install them. Naturally people are excited to hear that they can cut the cost of their hot water electricity bill by around 50%, but perhaps these units aren't the best for every location or circumstance ? Here's the most frequently asked questions to help get your head around this new technology.

Question: Can they be installed in commercial kitchens ?

Answer: The 6.0 kW units are not intended for use in commercial environments. The heating elements need time to cool down and the expected usage patterns follow that more related to homes where families use them for domestic purposes like washing up several times a day, up to 30 showers a day, etc. They are not designed to withstand industrial use where hot water is constantly demanded for places like commercial kitchens.

Question: Can they be used to provide hot water for washing machines ?

Answer: Possibly, but likely not. Washing machines tend to intersperse hot water with cold water in short bursts. For the instant electric units to function correctly, they rely on a continual demand of hot water on the element. Most washing machines "grab" hot water in bursty intervals, which don't give time for the element to heat up. Although this won't damage the hot water units, the effect will be akin to using only cold water in your washing -- unless your machine works differently to the rest. My advice is to set your washing machine to use cold water only -- which is also advice from our environmental experts :)

Question: How far can we expect the hot water travel from the unit and continue to remain hot ?

Answer: Hot water temperature fall depends on factors like ambient air temperature and contact temperature. Cold weather causes the hot water temperature to fall much quicker than hot weather. To overcome this phenomenon you should use padding like double-agg pipe to maintain temperature control for your hot water delivery. This can provide hot water for runs up to around 15m without too much temperature fall; however if not insulated then reduce your hot water runs to as short as possible - 5m or less.

Question: Can I simply swap out my existing hot water system for an Alpha Hot Water system ?

Answer: When designing the hot water system requirements for your dwelling, the builder has had to take into  account many considerations, for instance like the length of copper pipe runs between your system, whether you wanted solar, heat pump or gas systems, government rebates, pressure from the local plumber to purchase a certain product for you, etc. So there are many factors that have influenced the design of your hot water system and the delivery of hot water around your dwelling. We can't give you a simple answer, and in most cases you will need to talk with a plumber to determine how it needs to be installed.

Question: Will my existing power board (fuse box) be enough to fire up the Alpha X3EM unit ?

Answer: If you live in a very old dwelling then power to your house or unit or business may be restricted. An Alpha X3EM uses 6 kW of power, and this requires a 30 Amp circuit. Some old places might need to upgrade their power circuit to run them. (If that's you, then perhaps you need an electrician to check your place out anyway !) We've found in most cases that the fuse box can handle the extra current requirement.

Question: Will I need to upgrade the power circuit to my hot water system ?

Answer: Most possibly, yes. Traditional hot water storage systems are 3.6 kW but the Alpha X3EM is 6.0 kW, which means you are not likely able to use the same circuitry as your existing unit -- an electrician is required for installation of your system. If your power board doesn't need upgrading, then cost is relatively cheap to run the heavier grade cable to your hot water unit. Note that licenced plumbers with restricted electrical licences aren't able to install the higher grade of electrical cable that is required for this unit, though they are required for installing the unit to comply with your Alpha Electric warranty.

Question: Is 1 Alpha X3EM going to be enough for my dwelling - or will I need more ?

Answer: This will depend on your floor layout and where hot water is required around your house. If the kitchen, bathroom and laundry are all located in a nearby location then you are likely only to need one Alpha X3EM instantaneous hot water unit. For example, studio apartments, granny flats, sheds, garages, kids hangouts, el-fresco areas, and the like can all benefit from a single X3EM in most situations. A secondary X3EM might need to be deployed where an en-suite is located towards the other end of the house or if the kitchen is a long way away from the bathroom. The capital outlay for the units will be offset over time by the reduced cost of running them, compared to traditional hot water delivery methods.

Question: How much does a 5 minute shower cost ?

Answer: This will depend on your cost of electricity, but let's assume that it's 28 cents / kilowatt. In this case, a 5 minute shower will cost just 14 cents for electricity. Traditional storage hot water systems can cost between $1.50 and $3.00 a day to run - whether or not you are using hot water at all. Naturally you will be using less water because they are intended for install near where they are to be used - not centrally located like storage units. So we're also expecting to see a drop of up to 30% in water wastage with the introduction of the Alpha X3EM tankless instant electric hot water systems.

Question: What is the payback period (or Return on Investment)  for the Alpha X3EM ?

Answer: This is a tough question as everyone uses hot water differently, and also that the system you have now is likely to be different everyone else's. Unfortunately there are not a lot of comparisons done between our products compared to other hot water system types in the marketplace (eg. heat pump, solar, gas, electric storage). And even if you do come across them (like Vic Government Sustainability articles about hot water) then they are benchmarking units that are built for conditions in Victoria (or the Antartic going by those figures. ...) or using assumptions based on overseas experience. Our best guesstimate is that an Alpha X3EM will have a pay-back period of around 2.5 years compared to a similar electric storage unit for up to 4 people showering twice a day. There are so many disclaimers in this statement however that each case would have to be individually examined for comparison, which is obviously not the subject of this Q&A sheet.

Question: Are there any other limitations on the units?

Answer: The Alpha X3EM units are best considered when planning or renovating a house. That way the operating method and cost of installation is factored into the build cost of the dwelling. The units are "limited" to single phase (which I guess isn't really a limitation, is it ?) and so long as they are installed according to the instructions then they should run just the same as when they were first installed.

Question: Does "hard water" affect the performance of the units ?

Answer: Australian water can be affected with high mineral content like calcium (which is called "hard water" as opposed to "soft water"), which can build up in pipes, especially copper, as well as kettles and the like. Areas like this are usually identified already by the plumbers in a town and the use of sacrificial anodes or cathodes are usually prescribed to "soften" the water and reduce the mineral content.

Question: What is the expected lifetime of the Alpha X3EM units ?

Answer: Based on overseas installations and over 30 years real world experience, the Alpha units will last from 15 to 20 years without interruption. Compared to traditional electric storage (old copper tank) systems, which last around 8 to 10 years. The swapout time for the Alpha units is quite quick and easy, weighing less than 4 kg, and can be swapped by a plumber with restricted electrical licence within minutes.

Question: Where can I purchase these Alpha X3EM units from ?

Answer: Visit our website, or look for an installer in your area.

Originally posted at Flash Hot Water by Bradley Smith